Monday, April 30, 2012

﻿Marauders starting pitcher Jameson Taillon has been named the Florida State League Pitcher of the Week for the week of April 23 through 29.
Taillon, the Pirates' first pick in 2010, went 1-0 and didn't allow a run in 11 innings of work stretched over two starts. He struck out 10, walked two and allowed six hits

Taillon limited Jupiter to just three hits over five innings on Apri 24, striking out six batters. He faced the Hammerheads five days later in Jupiter, where he tossed six shutout innings and struck out four.

Friday, April 13, 2012

Benji Gonzalez led off the 10th inning with a double and scored on a throwing error by pitcher Caleb Thielbar as the Marauders beat the Fort Myers Miracle 3-2 in 10 innings in front of 1,215 fans at McKechnie Field.Thielbar made the error after fielding Gift Ngoepe's sacrifice bunt.In danger of being shut out for the second straight night, the Marauders (3-5) tied the score at 2 on Drew Maggi's two-run single in the eighth.Jhontahan Ramos threw two hitless innings of relief to earn the win, raising his record to 2-1 and lowering his ERA to 1.17.Jameson Taillon struck out six in five innings while allowing a run on three hits in his first start at McKechnie Field.

STAR OF THE GAME: Gonzalez scored two runs and walked twice to go along with his double.

UP NEXT: The Marauders and Miracle close out their set tonight in Fort Myers. The Marauders return home Sunday to start a three-game series with the Palm Beach Cardinals. Sunday's game starts at 5 p.m.

The 20-year-old Taillon is considered one of the Pirates' top-two prospects and one of the best in baseball. He allowed two earned runs in 3 2/3 innings during his first start last week in St. Lucie while striking out six and walking two.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Given the number of power arms in their rotation, including Gerrit Cole (above), the Bradenton Marauders were thought to be a team reliant on its pitching.

Thus far, the hurlers have been as good as advertised.

The hitters, however?

Not so much.

The Marauders are batting .185 heading into tonight's game in Palm Beach against Cardinals, ranking them last in the 12-team Florida State League.

The team ERA (2.70) is ranked fifth.

Consequently, the Marauders have lost three straight games and have been outscored 11-4 during the skid.

Nine Marauders have appeared in at least three of the team's four games thus far, but only two are hitting above .235 - Mel Rojas Jr. (.313) and Drew Maggi (.286). Bradenton is the only team in the league without a home run and only six of the Marauders' 23 hits have gone for extra bases.

They are last in the league in RBIs (six), runs (seven), total bases (31) and slugging, and 11th in on-base percentage (.271). After scoring three runs during Thursday's season-opener against St. Lucie, the Marauders have scored four since.

On the flip side, Bradenton's pitchers are fifth in WHIP (1.28), fourth in strikeouts (37) and are tied for fourth for fewest earned runs allowed (11).

Of course, the season is still very early. Heck, so is the first half.

But if they want to see a third straight trip to playoffs, the Marauders need their offense to catch up to their pitching.

Thursday, April 5, 2012

(photo by John Lembo)Stefan Welch was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to score Gift Ngoepe and give the Marauders a 3-2, 11-inning win over the St. Lucie Mets in front of 4,256 fans at McKechnie Field.Ngoepe had three hits and scored two runs for Bradenton (1-0), which improved to 3-0 in home-openers.Mej Rojas Jr., Welch and Carlos Paulino had hits for the Marauders.

STAR OF THE GAME: Ngoepe had a big night, but three Bradenton relievers - Eliecer Navarro, Casey Sadler and winning pitching Jhonathan Ramos - teamed for 7 1/3 innings of shutout work. They allowed four hits, struck out seven and walked two.QUOTE OF THE DAY: "It was a heart-pumping win." - Welch.UP NEXT: The Marauders and Mets return to McKechnie tonight for a 6:30 p.m. start. A.J. Burnett, recovering from eye surgery he underwent in early March, will make a rehab start for the Marauders.

- Marauders starter Colton Cain struck out four, walked four and allowed two runs on three hits in 3 2/3 innings. The lefty 21-year-old lefty has good stuff, and could be special once he gets better control. Then again, he only walked 31 in 106 1/3 innings last year, so tonight may have been a fluke.

- The Mets have swiped three bases, but don't blame it all on M's catcher Carlos Paulino. Twice Cain had a runner picked off, but first baseman Alex Dickerson's throw as late to second. And Paulino nearly nabbed a runner stealing third, but his throw glanced off the glove of third baseman Stefan Welch.

- Expected a bigger crowd tonight. Don't have a total yet, but the bleachers are nearly empty and there a plenty of green seats to be had. And tonight was free admission to any fan showing their Bright House Network billing statement.

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

(photo by John Lembo) Outfielder Robbie Grossman is one of 12 players now with Double-A Altoona who spent at least part of last season with the Marauders.The rest are listed below:PITCHERSNathan BakerRyan BeckmanVic BlackBrandon CumptonMatt McSwainDuke Welker

Colton Cain will start Opening Night against the St. Lucie Mets on Thursday at McKechnie Field.Cain, 21, was drafted in the eighth round by the Pirates in 2009. He went 6-8 with a 3.64 ERA in 24 games (19 start) last year with the Pirates' low Single-A team in West Virginia, striking out 81 and walking 31 in 106 1/3 innings.Cain allowed more than three earned runs in just one of his starts last year.Pirates pitcher A.J. Burnett, who is working his way back from eye surgery, will make a rehab start Friday against the Mets at McKechnie Field and will be relieved by Tyler Waldron.

Sunday, April 1, 2012

Pitcher A.J. Burnett will make his first rehab start of the season for the Marauders on Friday against the St. Lucie Mets at McKechnie Field.

Game time is 6:30 p.m.

The Pirates acquired Burnett in a February a trade with the New York Yankees. But the 35-year-old righty fractured a bone near his right eye while participating in a bunting tournament later that month and underwent surgery in early March.

He didn't make a start for the Pirates during Grapefruit League play, but threw a simulated game and bullpen sessions.

Burnett has a record of 121-111 and a 4.10 ERA in his career. He won a World Series with the Yankees in 2009 and threw a no-hitter in 2001 while with the Florida Marlins.

The Marauders open their third season 6:30 p.m. Thursday at McKechnie Field against the Mets.